ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) held a Change of Command ceremony August 2, 2018 as the activity's outgoing commander, Col. James F. Reckard III, relinquished his command to Col. Kelso C. Horne III.
The event was hosted by Col. Michelle Letcher, commander for the U.S. Army Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command.
The ceremony officially passed CMA leadership to Col. Horne, who will serve as the organization's third military leader.
"A change of command is a time-honored ceremony, one which predates the Norman conquest of England," Col. Letcher said during her opening remarks. "The ceremony is a symbolic passing of responsibility, authority and accountability of command from one leader to another."
Col. Horne joined CMA in August after serving as the 37th commander at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas. His previous command positions include: Commander, 112th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., from October 1997 to December 1998; Commander, HHD, 26th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Stewart, Ga. and Iraq from August 2001 to June 2003; and, Security Transition Team 1, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan from May 2011 to May 2012.
"Kelso Horne, you might not know it yet, but you are the right man for this position," Col. Reckard said. "Everything you did at Pine Bluff has set you up expertly to be the next director of CMA."
Col. Horne's awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 3), NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Army Staff Identification Badge.
During the ceremony, Col. Horne thanked the CMA workforce for the opportunity to serve as CMA Director, saying "Your reputation was reinforced during the transition. Your competence and professionalism are above the rest."
Visit https://www.cma.army.mil to learn more about CMA.
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